Houthis Fire Missiles at Yemen's Presidential Palace Complex
The attack on al-Maashiq Palace in Aden occurred amidst escalating regional tensions and Houthi threats against Saudi Arabia.
The Houthi movement launched several missiles targeting Yemen's presidential palace complex in Aden, Saudi Arabian media reported on October 15, 2026. The al-Maashiq Palace, which serves as the residence for the chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, was the focus of the attack. Witnesses reported hearing loud explosions in the vicinity of the palace.
According to reports, Yemeni Prime Minister Shaye al-Zindani and cabinet ministers were unharmed in the incident. Houthi media stated that the group targeted a military headquarters within the palace complex. This attack follows a week of intensified fighting and Houthi threats against Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi-led military coalition announced that the Houthis had attempted attacks on numerous Saudi airports, ports, and oil facilities. Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki stated that Houthi forces had launched 20 attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh this month, resulting in 17 fatalities and 333 injuries. Additionally, attacks on Abha airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia caused three deaths and 28 injuries.
Al-Maliki accused the Houthis of acquiring advanced military technology from 'regional actors,' including ballistic missiles and drones. The coalition reported destroying 127 weapons storage facilities and launch platforms in Yemen's mountainous regions. The spokesperson urged the Houthis to cease attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Shortly after the coalition's statement, a Houthi military spokesperson declared Saudi airspace and airports unsafe for civilian aviation, with exceptions for the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. This warning to airlines signals a continued escalation of the conflict.
Yemen has been engulfed in civil war since the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014, leading to a Saudi-led military intervention in 2015. While a UN-brokered truce in 2022 largely reduced major fighting, efforts to establish a lasting political settlement have been hampered by rising regional tensions.